May 14, 2025 • 35 mins
Original Release Date: May 17, 2023
Today's Mystery:Steve goes to London to intercept someone who is trying to sell a U.S. Intelligence secret.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 3, 1951
Originated in Hollywood
Stars: Brian Donlevy
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Today's Mystery:Steve goes to London to intercept someone who is trying to sell a U.S. Intelligence secret.
Original Radio Broadcast Date: March 3, 1951
Originated in Hollywood
Stars: Brian Donlevy
Support the show monthly at patreon.greatdetectives.net
Support the show on a one-time basis at http://support.greatdetectives.net.
'Mail a donation to: Adam Graham, PO Box 15913, Boise, Idaho 83715
Take the listener survey at http://survey.greatdetectives.net
Give us a call at 208-991-4783
Follow us on Instagram at http://instagram.com/greatdetectives
Follow us on Twitter @radiodetectives
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:28):
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham.If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectivesdot net. Follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and check us outon Instagram, Instagram, dot com,
(00:49):
slash Great Detectives. If you areenjoying this podcast, please be sure to
follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in
part by the financial part of ourlisteners. You can support our show on
a one time basis using the Zelleapp to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot
net, and you can also becomeone of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as
(01:12):
the little last two dollars per month. Just go over to Patreon dot Great
Detectives dot net. Well, nowit is time for this week's episode of
Dangerous Assignment. The original airdate Marchthe third, nineteen fifty one, and
the title is Prevent Disclosure of CompromiseCodes Dangerous Assignments starring Brand Dunlevy as Steve
(01:46):
Mitchell. Yeah, danger is myassignment. I get sent to a lot
(02:07):
of places I can't even pronounce.They all spell the same thing, though.
Trouble, But when I walk intothe Commissioner's office, I don't realize
that this assignment's gonna have me playinga friendly little game of who's who.
The only trouble with it is thatthe guy who loses gets killed. Morning,
(02:30):
Commissioner, who said you had anassignment for me? I do,
Steve? Suppose you had a secretcode? Yeah, and you suddenly found
out it wasn't a secret. Isuppose you found out that a hostile country
had succeeded in deciphering it. Whatwould you do, Well, I'd quit
using that particular code, would youwait a minute? No, I don't
if I knew that they'd broken thecode, but they didn't know I knew.
(02:52):
I think I'd keep on using it. Why, Well, like why,
I could send a lot of phonyinformation that would probably tie their strategy.
And that's as absolutely right, Steve. And that's just what's been going
on for the last six months.Yes, six months ago, we found
out from a very secret source thata certain country had broken one of our
diplomatic codes, one we've been usingwith the French government. And we've been
using that same code since, sendingfalse information. Yes, we've managed to
(03:15):
mislead that particular country on several vitalissues during that period. Well, it
sounds like a pretty neat little reckit is, indeed, and we'd like
to keep it going as long aspossible, But obviously the success of it
depends on they're not knowing that weknow they've broken our code, and that's
why the whole thing is hanging inthe balance right now. You mean they've
found out, were not yet,but unless we can prevent it, they're
(03:36):
going to find out very soon.How do you mean somewhere along the line
here in the States, there's beena leak, Steve, somebody's found out
our little secret and right now isen route to a meeting with a representative
from that other country to sell themthat secret. Oh great, who is
this guy and where is he now? We think that he or she's in
London at the moment he or sheSteve, We haven't the slightest idea who
this person is. Oh, you'rereally given me a lot to go on
(03:58):
commission right now. That's all amationwe have. Do you know where this
meeting is to take place? No? And you say you think there's characters
in London? Have we any agentsthere. Yes, Slats in London right
now working on the deal. He'sstaying at the Regency Hotel. Get over
the steam, work with SLADA,try to find out who this person is,
and above all, prevent that meetingfrom taking place. Well, I
(04:18):
said, you've got your assignment.Good luck. The National Broadcasting Company is
presenting Dangerous Assignment, starring Brian Dunlevyand the role of Steve Mitchell, colorful
(04:42):
two fisted government agent. At allthose places of the world where danger and
intrigue walk hand in hand, thereyou will find Steve Mitchell on another dangerous
assignment. Sure, I've got myassignment. Find somebody we don't know who
was on his way to a secretmeeting we don't know where a real breed.
(05:06):
Oh it's Wednesday. When I getto London, I head for Slater's
hotel room. Sure, glad tosee you, Steve. I've been chasing
so many smoke rings on this dealfor the last few days that I'm groggy.
But all of a sudden things arelooking up for us. Now,
what do you mean. An oldfriend of mine blew in London from Eastern
Europe last night tripless. Oh yeah, that little international information Pedlar. That's
right. What I found out fromhim cost me plenty, but it was
(05:28):
worth it. What'd you find out? The meeting is to take place in
Athens, Greece, tomorrow night.Athens. Yeah, according to his information,
our boy is going to be onthe plane that takes off in two
hours. Tripless seems to know justabout everything else. Does he know who
this party is? No? Youknow how these things go, Steve.
You can find out a lot aboutevents in this business. But as to
the names of people involved, well, that's a different story. Yeah.
(05:49):
One more thing. Do you haveany information on where in Athens the meeting
is to take place? No?As I understand it's Steve. The boy
who's piddling the secret is to becontacted in Athens by their agent as soon
as the play a lens. Presumablythe agent will set up the meeting with
him. Then I see, well, I just had better arrange myself space
on that planed Athens. Good workslater, see you in Athens. I
(06:10):
see the shots came from Slater's room. I run back and jerked the door
open. Slater's lying on the floorwindow, Steve window. I head for
the open window, the fire escapeleading down to the alley, but there's
(06:30):
nobody in sight. I go backto Slater, but one look and I
know he won't be able to tellme who shot him. Slater is dead,
So now I'm strictly on my own. The boy were after was on
a Slater all right. Now,I'm asking myself as he or she on
the me too. I've got anuneasy hunch that sooner or later that question
will be answered one way or another. But right now I know the killer
(06:54):
is going to be on that planeto Athens, which means I've got to
be on it too. I cableour agent in Athens, and then I
head for the airport side London andbuy my ticket. I've got half an
hour until take off, so Idrop in at the bar just off the
waiting room, and there's only oneother customer at the moment, a girl
down at one end of the bar. I slide onto the stool beside her.
Hi. Hi, one for theroad, Yeah how about you?
(07:17):
Or I'm heading for I'll lead morethan one. Oh, where's that?
I got a job waiting for mein Arabian secretary of the boss of an
oil company there. But you know, little Marty's having a tough time telling
yourself into taking it. Yeah,that's a pretty rugged country. Yeah.
So I'm keeping my eyes open,and if I find anything more interesting along
(07:39):
the way, I'll take it.You mean a job, leave us not
limited? Oh now you've read thestory of my life. What's yours?
Oh? Just knocking around, headingfor Athens in about twenty minutes. Oh
good, we'll be playing mate.Look, I thought you said you were
going to Arabia. Sure way,it happens. You see a little out
(08:01):
of your way, isn't it.Maybe. But I'm in no hurry,
like I told you. If Irun into anything more interesting and away,
wow, yeah, well, whoknows, Mody, Maybe you will.
I'll see you on the plane.What minutes later the plane takes off.
(08:26):
I gotta pass your list in thestore and start checking off the names and
the faces in my mind. Quitea few of them I can eliminate right
off the bat. Some British Armyand Navy officers, a Senate committee.
Finally, my miss narrows down tofour passengers. Marjorie the girl who is
looking for something interesting, A tall, sinister looking gent named striker who's sitting
(08:46):
next door, A nervous little Frenchmannamed le Blanc, and a fat gent
named Fabian who's sitting next to me. Fabian is a happy tourist type,
and his supply of bumb jokes it'sapparently inexhaustible. Then he says, well
that's nothing and even find the room. That's pretty good. H Well,
that reminds me of the one aboutthe fellow who sided that. How do
(09:13):
you like that? Won't even letme start it. And that's the trouble
with these foreigners. You know,no sense a humor at all, you
know what I mean. Well,I wouldn't exactly say that. Now you
you're different. You're a fellow American, you know what I mean. I
guess so, I mean you've gota sense a humor. Now this joke
I was about time. Yeah,yeah, you just got quite a stock
of the man. You listen,when you're a traveling salesman, it is
long before you find out just howimportant jokes are, you know what I
(09:37):
mean. I mean, when itcomes right down to it, you're not
selling your product, you're selling yourselfwell in your case, but you must
be quite a salesman. Well that'smighty, And I said, I'm not
sure I get you a friend,Oh, I skipper, what else do
you sell beside yourself in your snappysense of humor? A fabian Oh the
right fountain pen friend. Surely you'veheard of us in our slogan slogan yeah,
(09:58):
right, rights right. Oh,And that, of course reminds me
of the story about the woman whoused one of our pins. Aren't we
turning off our courts? Yeah?I wonder why we're over the south of
France right now and it's fogging upon it's quite a bit. We'll probably
be down for a few hours.Well that suits me all right. I
can sell as many pins in theSouth of France as I can anywhere house.
(10:20):
Again, I can see one guythat doesn't seem to suit. Hey,
tall jent sitting next to the girl. He seems to be doing a
little fancy fidgeting. Say, Ididn't notice before the little lady. She's
quite a looker, isn't she Youmean Marjorie? Oh you know her?
You think I could make any timethere? Well, she said she was
(10:43):
looking for something interesting. Well inthat case, we ought to get along.
Does fine together, because if there'sone thing I am, it's interesting,
you know what I mean? No, but keep me in the dark.
You know what I mean. Theplain Lands is a little emergency airfield
nearby, there's a French village.All of the passion, just troop in
(11:03):
and head for the nearest bar.See how you doing? Okay, Morgie.
You know I've got a guy who'sjust dying to meet you. His
name is Fabian. Oh well,I hope he's more interesting than at all.
Janitor's been sitting next to me.His name Striker. But I had
a practically abat bassack right out ofme. Yeah. I don't think he
(11:24):
said more than six words all theway. I noticed he didn't seem too
happy when the story told us wewere gonna land there. Yeah, I
noticed that too. How about adrink? Oh? Sure sounds that fashion
that I see a little later?Okay, Oh, I didn't see you
behind me something you wanted to goback? Why? Well, no,
(11:45):
I was merely passing by you whenyou turned down. Funny you are awfully
quiet about it. What do youmean? Also funny that you should know
my name no more so than youshould know mine, monsieur. Yeah,
I guess that makes us even oneway or another. How about a drink
and they'll see you, but Ipusil not blank, scurries outside. Fabian
(12:05):
over at the bar gives me abig grin and waves me over. But
I've had enough of his know whatI mean and lousy jokes to last me
for the rest of the trip.After a while, I get tired of
waiting for misren inhaling all that smokyair, so I go outside. The
fog is swirling thickly around the place. I start walking, trying to fit
together what I know so far,which isn't much. Le Blanc the Frenchman
(12:26):
strike to the tall, silent guy, if Baby in the Jokester and Marjorie.
It could be any of them,or it could be none of them.
Yeah, right now I'm beginning towonder if I've taken the wrong plane.
Then I hear it, just alittle sound, but enough to tell
me I'm not on the wrong trailafter all, the sound of a gun
being cocked somewhere in the fog.I hit the ground fast. The slugs
fan passed me A scrambled to myfeet and take off in the direction I
(12:48):
think they came from. Suddenly I'mwallowing around in a muddy field. I
can hear somebody else running, butin the fog, I can't tell where
and what gets gooier, but Ikeep going. Suddenly a hand shoots out
and grabs my ankle. I spreadeagle in the air too late. I
see the rock on the ground undermy head. I make a perfect tree
point landing. You are listening toDangerous Assignments, starring Brian don Levy as
(13:20):
Steve Mitchell. I don't know howlong I've been out, but when I
come to, I'm all alone inthe muddy field. So now it looks
like whoever I'm after knows a lotmore about me than I know about him.
But what I don't get is this, why didn't he finish me off?
(13:41):
I head back to the bar,but all the other passengers are gone.
I find out from the bartender they'vegone back to the airport. So
I get there on the double.The planes up at the end of the
runway, all set of the takeoff. I make it aboard just in time,
well well being to thank you,miss Lane. Yeah, looks like
(14:01):
somebody was trying to arrange for meto miss the plane. My joy,
What do you mean? Ask Kevin. I hope you don't mind if I
desert you for a while. Well, I'll try to be brave about it.
I thought it was high time thatthis little lady and I got acquainted,
you know what I mean. SoI talked to that guy Striker in
the changing seats with me for therest of the trap. Okay, see
you later. Yeah, well,I see you didn't miss the plane leglac.
(14:24):
But why should I assume it to. Oh that's a good question.
Excuse me, I said, Excuseme? Oh sorry, I've been trapped
up in my book. I guessyou'll mind if I squeeze by you.
This is my seat next to thewindow. Oh quite, thank you.
(14:45):
You're a striker night. Oh yes, mine's Mitchell really baby, and said
he'd talked to you into trading seatswith him. I see, old boy,
If you don't mind, I amtrying to read her. I had
a bad idea. Let's see,I think I left my newsbaby here on
the floor. Yeah, here itis. What stopped me cold is Striker's
(15:11):
shoe beside the newspaper on the floor. There's mud on evans, the same
color of mud as that in thefield where I was chasing the person who
shot at me. So Striker atthis point has just been promoted to number
one on my suspect list. It'sa long haul of Athens, but I
don't close my eyes for a second. All the way, sitting next to
a guy you think could be akiller is not exactly conducive to snoozing.
Finally, the plane lands and Athens. I get off first and hurry into
(15:35):
the waiting room. According to whatSlater had found out before he was killed,
this is a spot where the contactis to be made. I look
around the waiting room. Several peopleare lounging around, two guys over in
one corner, a third standing infront of a poster, a woman with
a baby. Any one of themcould be the agent. Now the rest
of the passion just file into thewaiting room. Marjorie's first. He doesn't
(15:56):
talk to a soul, but headstraight for the newsstand, picks out a
magazine, starts looking at it.Next comes Steady and the Fat Boy.
He walks straight through the waiting roomand under the limousine outside. Striker follows
him directly to the limousine, thencomes with a blank but he stops in
the waiting room and talks to oneof the men there. The gent turns
and leaves. The blank starts outthe door. I catch up with him
outside. Let me so you're myboy A blank? I say it.
(16:22):
Let go of me? Well,complete with gun? Were complete with gun,
and now to keep you in allthe my friend, handcuff? Hey,
what is this anyway? Since youseem to be aware of my identity
and attempted just now to detain me, possibly it follows that you are undoubtedly
a criminal, one did in onecompany or another. No, I will
invest the great then criminal wanted?Hey? Look who are you? Inspector
(16:45):
LeBlanc the French ste Oh great?And here I've been thinking, and now
as you perhaps you will be goodenough to identify yourself. Well, my
credentials are in my pocket. Butit looks like you'll have to fish him
up yourself. These handcuffs are alittle confining. Very well, ah,
reason, yeah, that's it,what agent from the United States? That's
(17:07):
right. Looks like we've sort ofbeen working across purposes, doesn't it.
Now? Would you mind unhandcuffing mea blank? Oh? But of course,
you know I feel somewhat embarrassed.It's okay, I guess I did
look a little suspicious to you.We and then when I learned that the
attempt on your life in that muddyfield in the south of arm Hey,
wait a minute, you saw someoneshooting at me? No, No,
I was outside walking around when Iheard the shots. I saw you hun
(17:32):
across the field in pursuit. ThenI heard you fall. That explains why
I wasn't killed. Then the killermust have heard you and took off.
It is obvious that we are workingon the same assignment. Say code propositions.
Yeah, well, according to ourinformation, le Blanc, whoever is
out to sell the secret, wason that plane. He or she was
to be contacted at the airport waitingroom. We oh, with you off
(17:56):
my suspect list. That now isit down to three people Striker, Fabian
and Archery. But none of thesethree people spoke to a single thousand in
the waiting I know it. That'swhat bothers me. Incidentally, who was
that guy I saw you talking tole Blanc? Oh? That was one
of my men. Mitchell I hadorthered him to try and discover who was
to contact one of the passengers,but he was unable to do so.
I don't get it. None ofthem did talk to anyone they got in
(18:18):
the limousine, And Mitchell, what'smatter the limousine? While we study of
talking, we have let them slipright through our finger. You mean the
contact might be made in the limousine. Oh, at some other point any
one of them could have the driverdropped them off at the meeting place.
All a matter of fact, Isort of hope that's what happened. The
blanc makes things easier for us.That way easier for us? Are you
insane, Michel Hut more than usual? Come on, let's go to the
(18:41):
hotel the Blank. I'll show youwhat I mean. Oh, Mitchell,
I still do not understand what youmean. But on our way with that
man sitting over there in the centerof the lobby, is he not the
driver of the limousine looks like him? Come on, I beg your problem,
(19:04):
monsieur highest Steve Bill still did youknow each other? Sure? It's
as Bill Donner. He's an agein the VARs love Blank? What But
how did you arrange for you?Who cabled him before I left London?
Told him to be at the airporthere in Athens when the plane landed.
I figured the logical thing for meto do was drive the limousine. Oh
I see anything of interest happened onthat trip from the airport here to the
(19:26):
hotel. Nothing, Steve, butreally nothing. All three of them come
to this hotel. No Striker wantedoff at another hotel a few blocks away.
Perhaps that is where the meeting needsto be. Don't worry. I
asked for the cooperation of the Athenspolice. They've got a boy over there
keeping an eye on Striker. Asfor the girl and the fat boy,
what's his name, Fabian? Yeah, Fabian. We've got their rooms watched.
(19:48):
Nobody's been to see them, nobody'scalled him on the telephone, and
they haven't tried to make any callsa contacts either. Well, goodn't work,
Bill, But that's the trouble.It's almost too good. What do
you mean we've got all three haven'tbottled up tight? Maybe the contacts already
been made. Well, there's surewasn't any contact made after they left the
airport waiting room, that's for sure. And beture, how could any contact
(20:10):
have been made inside the waiting home. We observed all three of them.
They did not talk to a soul. The two men went directly to the
limousine. The young lady paused onlylong enough to glance at the magazine at
the news stand hollowed A minute,Wait a minute, magazine news stand,
Steve. You think she could havegotten a message out of the magazine she
was looking at. I don't know. I really have to be sure she
got the right magazine. But whatI'm be getting to wonder is if the
(20:33):
contact might not have been a visualone visually. I don't follow you mutual,
but something in that waiting room thatwould give whoever was looking for at
a clue as to the meeting place. Could it be? I don't know,
maybe nothing, but it's worth achance anyway. I'll see you later.
(20:55):
I head back to the airport waitingroom. At this point, I
don't even know what I'm looking for, but I started around the news stands,
pile higher with various assorted magazines andnewspapers. And if the clue to
the meeting place is somewhere in thestack, it's a cinch I'll never find
it. Then, I know there'ssome posters around the walls. Most of
them are in Greek, so Imotioned to one of the porters. He
comes over. You speak English likeit. City's young guy. How about
(21:21):
doing a little translating for me?Translating Steward, what's the translate? A
poster there on the wall? Whatdoes it say? He's smoothie posted my
favorite being crossby pictures. Name ofBirth of Blues, Birth of the Blues
brother. That's a real old one. Oh frequently we do not get picture
here until fifteen years after they areneat. Yeah. Well, got the
same system in the States, onlyover there they call it television. Well,
(21:45):
I guess there's nothing in that posterthat'll help me. This picture name
of Bertha Blues. Have you seenit? Oh? Yeah, quite a
few times over the years. He'squite a huge favorite of my lawso like
especially men who has small parts oftrumpet player extra name of Berta only don't
left it. That's an interesting pronunciation. You ever hear of him? I
think he was a child actor inthose days. Let's see. How about
(22:07):
that poster over there? Clip mesee, Oh, death is about United
Nations Children's Fund, organization to helpunderprivileged children of all countries. Money is
requested. Oh that sounds like aworthwhile car. But I don't think that
will help me either, a matterof fact, I'm beginning to think I'm
barking up the wrong tree. WhoeverI'm after probably can understand Greek either.
So how can you get a messagefrom any of these posters? Well?
(22:30):
Errors for your trouble buster. Ohso thanks, you've got any more trouble?
I could get into it, deseprice am afraid not cookie, Hey,
just a minute, something else?It's troubling, I hope. Yeah.
That poster behind you, it's anEnglish So for this you need translation
too. No, I can readit all right. Wilson conducted tours of
Athens. Bus leaves a twelve eachday, returns at six each night.
(22:52):
Tour includes the Acropolis and other ruins, waterfront tickets, ape. So if
it is toured a city you want, I can give you better one in
debt, show you places that youwould be none of my thanks. Well,
I guess that poster's no help either. Just it for a moment.
There was something familiar about it,something that reminded me of Oh, I
don't know what. Maybe you've gotday to go sight see? No,
no, well, never mind,okay, hey hold it, so make
(23:17):
computer money? I think I justdid. Yeah, I remember now when
I got off the train and camein here. There was a man standing
in front of the sight seeing posterjust where you are now. So so
he was blocking out part of theposter with his body and what was left
was here here. Move over justa little. Yeah, that's it.
I'll read the part of the posterthat's still in sight twelve night water Front.
(23:38):
Hey, well, what do youknow? This is something of vitists.
It's your reporter. It's the mostinteresting thing I've seen since I left
home. Twelve Night water Front.Hey, i'd said LeBlanc, and when
freely translated, it means pier apeat midnight in my book. But if
(24:03):
you are right, Mitchell, ifthis is the contact messif then the person
for whom it was intended would notneed to stop in the waiting home or
talk to a soul, which meansit's open season on all the suspects.
Again, where are they now?YEA Fabia is drinking alone in the bar,
the girl is up in her home, and Striker is over at the
other hotel under the surveillance of yourman, Bill Donna. Let's see,
it's a quarter after eleven. Ifthat message off the poster is a real
(24:27):
McCoy, whoever it was, intendedfor. I'll be leaving for the waterfront
before long, Mitchell. Look comingdown the stairs. Yeah, Marjorie heading
for the bar. I think i'lljoin her, Are you well? I'll
remain here in the Hi my driedrop William. Well, it sounds like
(24:47):
I just lost a fan. What'sthe trouble you, seck jock Fabian Anthony,
and then you asked me what thetrouble? Oh I didn't hit it
off so well together. Only onething I'd like to hit off with him?
What's his head? Come on,I'll buy you a drink. Well,
oh, that's the best news I'vehad all that. Great? Great,
(25:07):
what are your Fabian's ancient? Exactly? Come on, one drink with
him. This is just fine.I was hoping a friendly face would come
along and have a drink with me. Hurt me more joke lately, Fabian,
I out so sorry, Steve,my foot must have just bumped into
your shoe. Well, I'll abouta nice drink for all of us,
then we'll get around to the jokes. I've still got a million that you
(25:30):
haven't heard that very much? Yepit what time is it too? Eleven
twenty five one? Oh, justdrinking that time. I turned in and
I just get this drink. Ohsort of sleepy all of a sudden,
Yeah, well maybe nothing. I'llsee you kids later. But right now,
(25:55):
something isn't the matter. Standing therein the bar, I can see
out into the lobby, and Isuddenly noticed that a chair out there is
empty. It's the chair le Blancwas sitting in. I go out into
the lobby, but he's nowhere insight. The clerk tells me he went
out just a minute ago. SuddenlyI get a wild idea. I had
to pierade at the waterfront. It'sa few minutes before midnight. When I
get there and out near the endof the pier, I see a cigarette
blowing in the dark, probably theforeign agent with a fistful of dough,
(26:18):
waiting to buy the information about thecode. I slipped into the shadows and
wait. A couple of minutes later, I hear it steps on the pier,
coming my way. This could bethe person I've been after at last.
Then I see a figure looming upout of the dark. I went
until this right beside me. Thenmy jump le blank Michel. So that
wild idea wasn't so wild after all? What are you talking about you mostly.
(26:42):
I suddenly noticed that you'd left thehotel, and it occurred to me
you might be my boy. WouldMichel that he's upseilled? I had a
perfectly good reason for leaving the hotelin Ahari? Oh what was it,
young man Donnell sent with on theother hotel that our suspect there, the
man called Striker, was checking out. I was seated over there immediately and
followed Striker to the airport. Butwhen he boarded a plane for the Far
(27:03):
East, I realized that he couldnot be our man, since he had
yet made contact with no one Isee. I returned to the hotel,
but you were gone. Then Iremembered the message on the post you had
told me about, so I proceededhere. Oh you're sorry. Sounds all
right, the blank, but ofcourse because it is true. Oh no,
no, Mitchell, do not letyour imagination play tricks on you.
I'm trying not to leave blank.I what is it? Hold it?
(27:27):
Yeah, somebody else coming? Getdown behind these crates. Wait, steps
stopped. They must have heard it. Well the blank? Get back.
You're okay, child? Where didthose shots come from? The foreign agent
(27:48):
farther out on the pier. Hemust think the first shot was aimed at
that's our boy again. You know, all the blankness is working out just
fine. With luck, they maykill each other off. Sounds like the
agent got hit. Yeah, I'llwait until it gets close now maybe or
(28:08):
guns drop it. I will killyou. I've got your wrest lock,
pull a trigger down your kill.He shot himself, yeah, trying to
do likewise to me. Are youalive? Yeah? Yeah? So baby
in the jokester was our boy.Looks like in the long run the joke
was on him. But at leasthe turned out to be a very obliging
(28:29):
guy. Obliging he killed the goosewho was gonna lay him the golden egg,
and then he killed himself. Comeon, I want to take a
look at this other guy. Well, mittrill secret he's still safe? Yeah,
both seller and purchaser of same orout of business? I don't here.
We are shining your light down onthe pier very well. Ah ah
we I arcognizing he's a well knownforeign adrian, I mean wise. Yeah,
(28:53):
I've seen his picture before. Waita minute, this envelope in his
hand were evolting. Damn Michelle,American money. The velope is bulging with
eight thousand dollars bills, fifteen ofthem. They really much to take of.
The Tavian secret was worth plenty allright at the time like this,
(29:14):
it would be convenient to be soldiers, a thought tune, rather than government
agents, because it would be atiny little sum to sleep into our pockets,
wouldn't. But I've got a muchbetter idea of blank. A poster.
I saw an airport post. Ohyou mean the one of which you
had the message about this meeting place. Oh no, another one advertising the
United Nations Children's Fund, an organizationto feed and clothed under privilege and displaced
(29:37):
children. According to the poster,they need go and here's fifteen thousand.
But no, that is a splendididea child. You know, I am
certain that this dead agent's government couldhave no possible objection if the money were
used such a noble purpose. Whoaafter all, A blank. They're always
yapping about how interested they are andthe little people, so we're just taking
(29:59):
them that they're word dangerous. Assignment, starring Brian Dunlevy as Steve Mitchell,
is written by Bob Ryfe and AdriaanJohn Doll and music by Robert Armbrewster and
is produced and directed by Bill carneBe will us again next week at this
(30:22):
same time when Brian Dunlevy, starringin the role of Steve Mitchell, will
embark on another dangerous assignment. DangerousAssignment came to you from Hollywood Theater Guild
on the Air brings you Hamlet tomorrowon NBC Welcome Back on Adventure, And
(31:00):
once again we find one of thesecases where the villain is the same and
it just kind of makes you wonder, what did Robert Rife have against obnoxious,
loudmouth people who bother their fellow tourists. Actually, I think I just
answered my own question. I thinkif I were undercover traveling, I would
(31:23):
go with the same color for that. LeBlanc went and pretend to be someone
who just wants to read or listento whatever they're wanting to read or listen
to, which is actually the wayI normally travel, So I think I
could pull it off as an undercovergig. Also, I love the acute
reference to Brian don Levy's film careerand appearance in the Birth of the Blues.
(31:48):
I've heard reference to the film,but I hadn't known that he was
in it. I generally don't associatehim with musical bass films, but I've
did a little searching and it's soundslike an interesting film. My check it
out. There was also a ScreenGuild Theater version, and I like to
listen to those, just to giveme a sample of what might be in
a particular movie. The guy atthe movie house did exaggerate a bit when
(32:14):
he said that all of the filmsthey got were fifteen years old, because
Birth of the Blues was released innineteen forty one, so it's a little
newer than that. Steve Mitchell's rejoinerabout television, though, it was a
reference to the fact that early television, in addition to the few kinescopes shows
(32:37):
that were being played, was reallyknown for replaying a lot of old movies.
Of course, when television started toreplay newer popular films, that would
be the end of the radio filmadaptations like Lux Radio Theater. Now we
(33:00):
turn to listener comments and feedback,and we start with a review on the
Apple podcast store. BILLOG sixty eightriots as a rural mail carrier in Maine,
spending six plus hours in a carsix days a week, I'd be
lost without it. I've been listeningfor a few years and finally getting a
(33:22):
round reviewing. I truly thank youfor what you are doing well. Thank
you so much and so glad tobe able to keep your company on your
mail route. Now it's time tothank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to go ahead andthank Doug. Patreon supporters since July of
twenty twenty one currently supporting the programat the shameless level of four dollars or
(33:44):
more per month. Thanks so muchfor your support, Doug, and that
will do it for today. Ifyou are enjoying this podcast, please follow
us using your favorite podcast software,And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube,
be sure to lock the video,subscribe to the channel, and marked
the notification ballot, as well asleaback any comment if you so desire.
(34:05):
We'll be back next Wednesday with anotherepisode of Dangerous Asimment. But join us
back here tomorrow for follow vans whereMarcolm I won't be held very long,
will I? I can't make anypromises. It's possibility Vance come in.
This is Miss Jacqueline Rice, MissRice Finlo. Vance. How do you
do? Nce? You know Iasked you to come down definitely, although
(34:27):
your meager information hasn't supplied me withany motive for the crime. We haven't
found any ourselves yet, don't evenknow who the dead man was a matter
of fact, we know his name, Dan Smith, and that's all.
It occurred to me on the wayhere that the poker game might have been
the reason for his murder. Wewere playing for pennies, van Sergeant Heath
who broke into the apartment, andtell you that he told Markham and Markham
told me, which is the samething. But while pennies were used,
(34:50):
they may only have been used asan indicator, like a chip for instance.
In other words, each penny mighthave represented ten dollars or fifty or
one hundred. That's right, isn'tit, miss Rice? Yes might have
kind if Dan Smith were winning andsomebody couldn't afford to lose. How were
you doing in the game, missRice? I was losing up until the
hand that was interrupted, and thatone I would have won. That one
I had a straight flush. Minewas the winning hand. A straight flush
(35:14):
beat three aces, you know,so it does, and that's what Smith
held. Fred. You'll have tofind a different angle vance perhaps, although
I doubt it. After I questionedthe other two suspects, Markham, I'd
like you to release them and missRice all right. If you say so
vance, that means it's all rightif I go, that's correct, but
not too far, nicely said Markham. You see, I think miss Rice
has gone far enough already. Ihope you'll be with us then. In
(35:36):
the meantime, do send your commentsto Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot and
yet, follow us on Twitter,Radio Detectives, and check us out on
Instagram, Instagram dot com slash GreatDetectives From boise Idahole, This is your
host, Adam Graham's son and Off
Welcome to the Great Detectives of OldTime Radio from Boise, Idaho. This
is your host, Adam Graham.If you have a comment, email it
to me Box thirteen at Great Detectivesdot net. Follow us on Twitter at
Radio Detectives, and check us outon Instagram, Instagram, dot com,
(00:49):
slash Great Detectives. If you areenjoying this podcast, please be sure to
follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program is brought to you in
part by the financial part of ourlisteners. You can support our show on
a one time basis using the Zelleapp to Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot
net, and you can also becomeone of our ongoing Patreon supporters for as
(01:12):
the little last two dollars per month. Just go over to Patreon dot Great
Detectives dot net. Well, nowit is time for this week's episode of
Dangerous Assignment. The original airdate Marchthe third, nineteen fifty one, and
the title is Prevent Disclosure of CompromiseCodes Dangerous Assignments starring Brand Dunlevy as Steve
(01:46):
Mitchell. Yeah, danger is myassignment. I get sent to a lot
(02:07):
of places I can't even pronounce.They all spell the same thing, though.
Trouble, But when I walk intothe Commissioner's office, I don't realize
that this assignment's gonna have me playinga friendly little game of who's who.
The only trouble with it is thatthe guy who loses gets killed. Morning,
(02:30):
Commissioner, who said you had anassignment for me? I do,
Steve? Suppose you had a secretcode? Yeah, and you suddenly found
out it wasn't a secret. Isuppose you found out that a hostile country
had succeeded in deciphering it. Whatwould you do, Well, I'd quit
using that particular code, would youwait a minute? No, I don't
if I knew that they'd broken thecode, but they didn't know I knew.
(02:52):
I think I'd keep on using it. Why, Well, like why,
I could send a lot of phonyinformation that would probably tie their strategy.
And that's as absolutely right, Steve. And that's just what's been going
on for the last six months.Yes, six months ago, we found
out from a very secret source thata certain country had broken one of our
diplomatic codes, one we've been usingwith the French government. And we've been
using that same code since, sendingfalse information. Yes, we've managed to
(03:15):
mislead that particular country on several vitalissues during that period. Well, it
sounds like a pretty neat little reckit is, indeed, and we'd like
to keep it going as long aspossible, But obviously the success of it
depends on they're not knowing that weknow they've broken our code, and that's
why the whole thing is hanging inthe balance right now. You mean they've
found out, were not yet,but unless we can prevent it, they're
(03:36):
going to find out very soon.How do you mean somewhere along the line
here in the States, there's beena leak, Steve, somebody's found out
our little secret and right now isen route to a meeting with a representative
from that other country to sell themthat secret. Oh great, who is
this guy and where is he now? We think that he or she's in
London at the moment he or sheSteve, We haven't the slightest idea who
this person is. Oh, you'rereally given me a lot to go on
(03:58):
commission right now. That's all amationwe have. Do you know where this
meeting is to take place? No? And you say you think there's characters
in London? Have we any agentsthere. Yes, Slats in London right
now working on the deal. He'sstaying at the Regency Hotel. Get over
the steam, work with SLADA,try to find out who this person is,
and above all, prevent that meetingfrom taking place. Well, I
(04:18):
said, you've got your assignment.Good luck. The National Broadcasting Company is
presenting Dangerous Assignment, starring Brian Dunlevyand the role of Steve Mitchell, colorful
(04:42):
two fisted government agent. At allthose places of the world where danger and
intrigue walk hand in hand, thereyou will find Steve Mitchell on another dangerous
assignment. Sure, I've got myassignment. Find somebody we don't know who
was on his way to a secretmeeting we don't know where a real breed.
(05:06):
Oh it's Wednesday. When I getto London, I head for Slater's
hotel room. Sure, glad tosee you, Steve. I've been chasing
so many smoke rings on this dealfor the last few days that I'm groggy.
But all of a sudden things arelooking up for us. Now,
what do you mean. An oldfriend of mine blew in London from Eastern
Europe last night tripless. Oh yeah, that little international information Pedlar. That's
right. What I found out fromhim cost me plenty, but it was
(05:28):
worth it. What'd you find out? The meeting is to take place in
Athens, Greece, tomorrow night.Athens. Yeah, according to his information,
our boy is going to be onthe plane that takes off in two
hours. Tripless seems to know justabout everything else. Does he know who
this party is? No? Youknow how these things go, Steve.
You can find out a lot aboutevents in this business. But as to
the names of people involved, well, that's a different story. Yeah.
(05:49):
One more thing. Do you haveany information on where in Athens the meeting
is to take place? No?As I understand it's Steve. The boy
who's piddling the secret is to becontacted in Athens by their agent as soon
as the play a lens. Presumablythe agent will set up the meeting with
him. Then I see, well, I just had better arrange myself space
on that planed Athens. Good workslater, see you in Athens. I
(06:10):
see the shots came from Slater's room. I run back and jerked the door
open. Slater's lying on the floorwindow, Steve window. I head for
the open window, the fire escapeleading down to the alley, but there's
(06:30):
nobody in sight. I go backto Slater, but one look and I
know he won't be able to tellme who shot him. Slater is dead,
So now I'm strictly on my own. The boy were after was on
a Slater all right. Now,I'm asking myself as he or she on
the me too. I've got anuneasy hunch that sooner or later that question
will be answered one way or another. But right now I know the killer
(06:54):
is going to be on that planeto Athens, which means I've got to
be on it too. I cableour agent in Athens, and then I
head for the airport side London andbuy my ticket. I've got half an
hour until take off, so Idrop in at the bar just off the
waiting room, and there's only oneother customer at the moment, a girl
down at one end of the bar. I slide onto the stool beside her.
Hi. Hi, one for theroad, Yeah how about you?
(07:17):
Or I'm heading for I'll lead morethan one. Oh, where's that?
I got a job waiting for mein Arabian secretary of the boss of an
oil company there. But you know, little Marty's having a tough time telling
yourself into taking it. Yeah,that's a pretty rugged country. Yeah.
So I'm keeping my eyes open,and if I find anything more interesting along
(07:39):
the way, I'll take it.You mean a job, leave us not
limited? Oh now you've read thestory of my life. What's yours?
Oh? Just knocking around, headingfor Athens in about twenty minutes. Oh
good, we'll be playing mate.Look, I thought you said you were
going to Arabia. Sure way,it happens. You see a little out
(08:01):
of your way, isn't it.Maybe. But I'm in no hurry,
like I told you. If Irun into anything more interesting and away,
wow, yeah, well, whoknows, Mody, Maybe you will.
I'll see you on the plane.What minutes later the plane takes off.
(08:26):
I gotta pass your list in thestore and start checking off the names and
the faces in my mind. Quitea few of them I can eliminate right
off the bat. Some British Armyand Navy officers, a Senate committee.
Finally, my miss narrows down tofour passengers. Marjorie the girl who is
looking for something interesting, A tall, sinister looking gent named striker who's sitting
(08:46):
next door, A nervous little Frenchmannamed le Blanc, and a fat gent
named Fabian who's sitting next to me. Fabian is a happy tourist type,
and his supply of bumb jokes it'sapparently inexhaustible. Then he says, well
that's nothing and even find the room. That's pretty good. H Well,
that reminds me of the one aboutthe fellow who sided that. How do
(09:13):
you like that? Won't even letme start it. And that's the trouble
with these foreigners. You know,no sense a humor at all, you
know what I mean. Well,I wouldn't exactly say that. Now you
you're different. You're a fellow American, you know what I mean. I
guess so, I mean you've gota sense a humor. Now this joke
I was about time. Yeah,yeah, you just got quite a stock
of the man. You listen,when you're a traveling salesman, it is
long before you find out just howimportant jokes are, you know what I
(09:37):
mean. I mean, when itcomes right down to it, you're not
selling your product, you're selling yourselfwell in your case, but you must
be quite a salesman. Well that'smighty, And I said, I'm not
sure I get you a friend,Oh, I skipper, what else do
you sell beside yourself in your snappysense of humor? A fabian Oh the
right fountain pen friend. Surely you'veheard of us in our slogan slogan yeah,
(09:58):
right, rights right. Oh,And that, of course reminds me
of the story about the woman whoused one of our pins. Aren't we
turning off our courts? Yeah?I wonder why we're over the south of
France right now and it's fogging upon it's quite a bit. We'll probably
be down for a few hours.Well that suits me all right. I
can sell as many pins in theSouth of France as I can anywhere house.
(10:20):
Again, I can see one guythat doesn't seem to suit. Hey,
tall jent sitting next to the girl. He seems to be doing a
little fancy fidgeting. Say, Ididn't notice before the little lady. She's
quite a looker, isn't she Youmean Marjorie? Oh you know her?
You think I could make any timethere? Well, she said she was
(10:43):
looking for something interesting. Well inthat case, we ought to get along.
Does fine together, because if there'sone thing I am, it's interesting,
you know what I mean? No, but keep me in the dark.
You know what I mean. Theplain Lands is a little emergency airfield
nearby, there's a French village.All of the passion, just troop in
(11:03):
and head for the nearest bar.See how you doing? Okay, Morgie.
You know I've got a guy who'sjust dying to meet you. His
name is Fabian. Oh well,I hope he's more interesting than at all.
Janitor's been sitting next to me.His name Striker. But I had
a practically abat bassack right out ofme. Yeah. I don't think he
(11:24):
said more than six words all theway. I noticed he didn't seem too
happy when the story told us wewere gonna land there. Yeah, I
noticed that too. How about adrink? Oh? Sure sounds that fashion
that I see a little later?Okay, Oh, I didn't see you
behind me something you wanted to goback? Why? Well, no,
(11:45):
I was merely passing by you whenyou turned down. Funny you are awfully
quiet about it. What do youmean? Also funny that you should know
my name no more so than youshould know mine, monsieur. Yeah,
I guess that makes us even oneway or another. How about a drink
and they'll see you, but Ipusil not blank, scurries outside. Fabian
(12:05):
over at the bar gives me abig grin and waves me over. But
I've had enough of his know whatI mean and lousy jokes to last me
for the rest of the trip.After a while, I get tired of
waiting for misren inhaling all that smokyair, so I go outside. The
fog is swirling thickly around the place. I start walking, trying to fit
together what I know so far,which isn't much. Le Blanc the Frenchman
(12:26):
strike to the tall, silent guy, if Baby in the Jokester and Marjorie.
It could be any of them,or it could be none of them.
Yeah, right now I'm beginning towonder if I've taken the wrong plane.
Then I hear it, just alittle sound, but enough to tell
me I'm not on the wrong trailafter all, the sound of a gun
being cocked somewhere in the fog.I hit the ground fast. The slugs
fan passed me A scrambled to myfeet and take off in the direction I
(12:48):
think they came from. Suddenly I'mwallowing around in a muddy field. I
can hear somebody else running, butin the fog, I can't tell where
and what gets gooier, but Ikeep going. Suddenly a hand shoots out
and grabs my ankle. I spreadeagle in the air too late. I
see the rock on the ground undermy head. I make a perfect tree
point landing. You are listening toDangerous Assignments, starring Brian don Levy as
(13:20):
Steve Mitchell. I don't know howlong I've been out, but when I
come to, I'm all alone inthe muddy field. So now it looks
like whoever I'm after knows a lotmore about me than I know about him.
But what I don't get is this, why didn't he finish me off?
(13:41):
I head back to the bar,but all the other passengers are gone.
I find out from the bartender they'vegone back to the airport. So
I get there on the double.The planes up at the end of the
runway, all set of the takeoff. I make it aboard just in time,
well well being to thank you,miss Lane. Yeah, looks like
(14:01):
somebody was trying to arrange for meto miss the plane. My joy,
What do you mean? Ask Kevin. I hope you don't mind if I
desert you for a while. Well, I'll try to be brave about it.
I thought it was high time thatthis little lady and I got acquainted,
you know what I mean. SoI talked to that guy Striker in
the changing seats with me for therest of the trap. Okay, see
you later. Yeah, well,I see you didn't miss the plane leglac.
(14:24):
But why should I assume it to. Oh that's a good question.
Excuse me, I said, Excuseme? Oh sorry, I've been trapped
up in my book. I guessyou'll mind if I squeeze by you.
This is my seat next to thewindow. Oh quite, thank you.
(14:45):
You're a striker night. Oh yes, mine's Mitchell really baby, and said
he'd talked to you into trading seatswith him. I see, old boy,
If you don't mind, I amtrying to read her. I had
a bad idea. Let's see,I think I left my newsbaby here on
the floor. Yeah, here itis. What stopped me cold is Striker's
(15:11):
shoe beside the newspaper on the floor. There's mud on evans, the same
color of mud as that in thefield where I was chasing the person who
shot at me. So Striker atthis point has just been promoted to number
one on my suspect list. It'sa long haul of Athens, but I
don't close my eyes for a second. All the way, sitting next to
a guy you think could be akiller is not exactly conducive to snoozing.
Finally, the plane lands and Athens. I get off first and hurry into
(15:35):
the waiting room. According to whatSlater had found out before he was killed,
this is a spot where the contactis to be made. I look
around the waiting room. Several peopleare lounging around, two guys over in
one corner, a third standing infront of a poster, a woman with
a baby. Any one of themcould be the agent. Now the rest
of the passion just file into thewaiting room. Marjorie's first. He doesn't
(15:56):
talk to a soul, but headstraight for the newsstand, picks out a
magazine, starts looking at it.Next comes Steady and the Fat Boy.
He walks straight through the waiting roomand under the limousine outside. Striker follows
him directly to the limousine, thencomes with a blank but he stops in
the waiting room and talks to oneof the men there. The gent turns
and leaves. The blank starts outthe door. I catch up with him
outside. Let me so you're myboy A blank? I say it.
(16:22):
Let go of me? Well,complete with gun? Were complete with gun,
and now to keep you in allthe my friend, handcuff? Hey,
what is this anyway? Since youseem to be aware of my identity
and attempted just now to detain me, possibly it follows that you are undoubtedly
a criminal, one did in onecompany or another. No, I will
invest the great then criminal wanted?Hey? Look who are you? Inspector
(16:45):
LeBlanc the French ste Oh great?And here I've been thinking, and now
as you perhaps you will be goodenough to identify yourself. Well, my
credentials are in my pocket. Butit looks like you'll have to fish him
up yourself. These handcuffs are alittle confining. Very well, ah,
reason, yeah, that's it,what agent from the United States? That's
(17:07):
right. Looks like we've sort ofbeen working across purposes, doesn't it.
Now? Would you mind unhandcuffing mea blank? Oh? But of course,
you know I feel somewhat embarrassed.It's okay, I guess I did
look a little suspicious to you.We and then when I learned that the
attempt on your life in that muddyfield in the south of arm Hey,
wait a minute, you saw someoneshooting at me? No, No,
I was outside walking around when Iheard the shots. I saw you hun
(17:32):
across the field in pursuit. ThenI heard you fall. That explains why
I wasn't killed. Then the killermust have heard you and took off.
It is obvious that we are workingon the same assignment. Say code propositions.
Yeah, well, according to ourinformation, le Blanc, whoever is
out to sell the secret, wason that plane. He or she was
to be contacted at the airport waitingroom. We oh, with you off
(17:56):
my suspect list. That now isit down to three people Striker, Fabian
and Archery. But none of thesethree people spoke to a single thousand in
the waiting I know it. That'swhat bothers me. Incidentally, who was
that guy I saw you talking tole Blanc? Oh? That was one
of my men. Mitchell I hadorthered him to try and discover who was
to contact one of the passengers,but he was unable to do so.
I don't get it. None ofthem did talk to anyone they got in
(18:18):
the limousine, And Mitchell, what'smatter the limousine? While we study of
talking, we have let them slipright through our finger. You mean the
contact might be made in the limousine. Oh, at some other point any
one of them could have the driverdropped them off at the meeting place.
All a matter of fact, Isort of hope that's what happened. The
blanc makes things easier for us.That way easier for us? Are you
insane, Michel Hut more than usual? Come on, let's go to the
(18:41):
hotel the Blank. I'll show youwhat I mean. Oh, Mitchell,
I still do not understand what youmean. But on our way with that
man sitting over there in the centerof the lobby, is he not the
driver of the limousine looks like him? Come on, I beg your problem,
(19:04):
monsieur highest Steve Bill still did youknow each other? Sure? It's
as Bill Donner. He's an agein the VARs love Blank? What But
how did you arrange for you?Who cabled him before I left London?
Told him to be at the airporthere in Athens when the plane landed.
I figured the logical thing for meto do was drive the limousine. Oh
I see anything of interest happened onthat trip from the airport here to the
(19:26):
hotel. Nothing, Steve, butreally nothing. All three of them come
to this hotel. No Striker wantedoff at another hotel a few blocks away.
Perhaps that is where the meeting needsto be. Don't worry. I
asked for the cooperation of the Athenspolice. They've got a boy over there
keeping an eye on Striker. Asfor the girl and the fat boy,
what's his name, Fabian? Yeah, Fabian. We've got their rooms watched.
(19:48):
Nobody's been to see them, nobody'scalled him on the telephone, and
they haven't tried to make any callsa contacts either. Well, goodn't work,
Bill, But that's the trouble.It's almost too good. What do
you mean we've got all three haven'tbottled up tight? Maybe the contacts already
been made. Well, there's surewasn't any contact made after they left the
airport waiting room, that's for sure. And beture, how could any contact
(20:10):
have been made inside the waiting home. We observed all three of them.
They did not talk to a soul. The two men went directly to the
limousine. The young lady paused onlylong enough to glance at the magazine at
the news stand hollowed A minute,Wait a minute, magazine news stand,
Steve. You think she could havegotten a message out of the magazine she
was looking at. I don't know. I really have to be sure she
got the right magazine. But whatI'm be getting to wonder is if the
(20:33):
contact might not have been a visualone visually. I don't follow you mutual,
but something in that waiting room thatwould give whoever was looking for at
a clue as to the meeting place. Could it be? I don't know,
maybe nothing, but it's worth achance anyway. I'll see you later.
(20:55):
I head back to the airport waitingroom. At this point, I
don't even know what I'm looking for, but I started around the news stands,
pile higher with various assorted magazines andnewspapers. And if the clue to
the meeting place is somewhere in thestack, it's a cinch I'll never find
it. Then, I know there'ssome posters around the walls. Most of
them are in Greek, so Imotioned to one of the porters. He
comes over. You speak English likeit. City's young guy. How about
(21:21):
doing a little translating for me?Translating Steward, what's the translate? A
poster there on the wall? Whatdoes it say? He's smoothie posted my
favorite being crossby pictures. Name ofBirth of Blues, Birth of the Blues
brother. That's a real old one. Oh frequently we do not get picture
here until fifteen years after they areneat. Yeah. Well, got the
same system in the States, onlyover there they call it television. Well,
(21:45):
I guess there's nothing in that posterthat'll help me. This picture name
of Bertha Blues. Have you seenit? Oh? Yeah, quite a
few times over the years. He'squite a huge favorite of my lawso like
especially men who has small parts oftrumpet player extra name of Berta only don't
left it. That's an interesting pronunciation. You ever hear of him? I
think he was a child actor inthose days. Let's see. How about
(22:07):
that poster over there? Clip mesee, Oh, death is about United
Nations Children's Fund, organization to helpunderprivileged children of all countries. Money is
requested. Oh that sounds like aworthwhile car. But I don't think that
will help me either, a matterof fact, I'm beginning to think I'm
barking up the wrong tree. WhoeverI'm after probably can understand Greek either.
So how can you get a messagefrom any of these posters? Well?
(22:30):
Errors for your trouble buster. Ohso thanks, you've got any more trouble?
I could get into it, deseprice am afraid not cookie, Hey,
just a minute, something else?It's troubling, I hope. Yeah.
That poster behind you, it's anEnglish So for this you need translation
too. No, I can readit all right. Wilson conducted tours of
Athens. Bus leaves a twelve eachday, returns at six each night.
(22:52):
Tour includes the Acropolis and other ruins, waterfront tickets, ape. So if
it is toured a city you want, I can give you better one in
debt, show you places that youwould be none of my thanks. Well,
I guess that poster's no help either. Just it for a moment.
There was something familiar about it,something that reminded me of Oh, I
don't know what. Maybe you've gotday to go sight see? No,
no, well, never mind,okay, hey hold it, so make
(23:17):
computer money? I think I justdid. Yeah, I remember now when
I got off the train and camein here. There was a man standing
in front of the sight seeing posterjust where you are now. So so
he was blocking out part of theposter with his body and what was left
was here here. Move over justa little. Yeah, that's it.
I'll read the part of the posterthat's still in sight twelve night water Front.
(23:38):
Hey, well, what do youknow? This is something of vitists.
It's your reporter. It's the mostinteresting thing I've seen since I left
home. Twelve Night water Front.Hey, i'd said LeBlanc, and when
freely translated, it means pier apeat midnight in my book. But if
(24:03):
you are right, Mitchell, ifthis is the contact messif then the person
for whom it was intended would notneed to stop in the waiting home or
talk to a soul, which meansit's open season on all the suspects.
Again, where are they now?YEA Fabia is drinking alone in the bar,
the girl is up in her home, and Striker is over at the
other hotel under the surveillance of yourman, Bill Donna. Let's see,
it's a quarter after eleven. Ifthat message off the poster is a real
(24:27):
McCoy, whoever it was, intendedfor. I'll be leaving for the waterfront
before long, Mitchell. Look comingdown the stairs. Yeah, Marjorie heading
for the bar. I think i'lljoin her, Are you well? I'll
remain here in the Hi my driedrop William. Well, it sounds like
(24:47):
I just lost a fan. What'sthe trouble you, seck jock Fabian Anthony,
and then you asked me what thetrouble? Oh I didn't hit it
off so well together. Only onething I'd like to hit off with him?
What's his head? Come on,I'll buy you a drink. Well,
oh, that's the best news I'vehad all that. Great? Great,
(25:07):
what are your Fabian's ancient? Exactly? Come on, one drink with
him. This is just fine.I was hoping a friendly face would come
along and have a drink with me. Hurt me more joke lately, Fabian,
I out so sorry, Steve,my foot must have just bumped into
your shoe. Well, I'll abouta nice drink for all of us,
then we'll get around to the jokes. I've still got a million that you
(25:30):
haven't heard that very much? Yepit what time is it too? Eleven
twenty five one? Oh, justdrinking that time. I turned in and
I just get this drink. Ohsort of sleepy all of a sudden,
Yeah, well maybe nothing. I'llsee you kids later. But right now,
(25:55):
something isn't the matter. Standing therein the bar, I can see
out into the lobby, and Isuddenly noticed that a chair out there is
empty. It's the chair le Blancwas sitting in. I go out into
the lobby, but he's nowhere insight. The clerk tells me he went
out just a minute ago. SuddenlyI get a wild idea. I had
to pierade at the waterfront. It'sa few minutes before midnight. When I
get there and out near the endof the pier, I see a cigarette
blowing in the dark, probably theforeign agent with a fistful of dough,
(26:18):
waiting to buy the information about thecode. I slipped into the shadows and
wait. A couple of minutes later, I hear it steps on the pier,
coming my way. This could bethe person I've been after at last.
Then I see a figure looming upout of the dark. I went
until this right beside me. Thenmy jump le blank Michel. So that
wild idea wasn't so wild after all? What are you talking about you mostly.
(26:42):
I suddenly noticed that you'd left thehotel, and it occurred to me
you might be my boy. WouldMichel that he's upseilled? I had a
perfectly good reason for leaving the hotelin Ahari? Oh what was it,
young man Donnell sent with on theother hotel that our suspect there, the
man called Striker, was checking out. I was seated over there immediately and
followed Striker to the airport. Butwhen he boarded a plane for the Far
(27:03):
East, I realized that he couldnot be our man, since he had
yet made contact with no one Isee. I returned to the hotel,
but you were gone. Then Iremembered the message on the post you had
told me about, so I proceededhere. Oh you're sorry. Sounds all
right, the blank, but ofcourse because it is true. Oh no,
no, Mitchell, do not letyour imagination play tricks on you.
I'm trying not to leave blank.I what is it? Hold it?
(27:27):
Yeah, somebody else coming? Getdown behind these crates. Wait, steps
stopped. They must have heard it. Well the blank? Get back.
You're okay, child? Where didthose shots come from? The foreign agent
(27:48):
farther out on the pier. Hemust think the first shot was aimed at
that's our boy again. You know, all the blankness is working out just
fine. With luck, they maykill each other off. Sounds like the
agent got hit. Yeah, I'llwait until it gets close now maybe or
(28:08):
guns drop it. I will killyou. I've got your wrest lock,
pull a trigger down your kill.He shot himself, yeah, trying to
do likewise to me. Are youalive? Yeah? Yeah? So baby
in the jokester was our boy.Looks like in the long run the joke
was on him. But at leasthe turned out to be a very obliging
(28:29):
guy. Obliging he killed the goosewho was gonna lay him the golden egg,
and then he killed himself. Comeon, I want to take a
look at this other guy. Well, mittrill secret he's still safe? Yeah,
both seller and purchaser of same orout of business? I don't here.
We are shining your light down onthe pier very well. Ah ah
we I arcognizing he's a well knownforeign adrian, I mean wise. Yeah,
(28:53):
I've seen his picture before. Waita minute, this envelope in his
hand were evolting. Damn Michelle,American money. The velope is bulging with
eight thousand dollars bills, fifteen ofthem. They really much to take of.
The Tavian secret was worth plenty allright at the time like this,
(29:14):
it would be convenient to be soldiers, a thought tune, rather than government
agents, because it would be atiny little sum to sleep into our pockets,
wouldn't. But I've got a muchbetter idea of blank. A poster.
I saw an airport post. Ohyou mean the one of which you
had the message about this meeting place. Oh no, another one advertising the
United Nations Children's Fund, an organizationto feed and clothed under privilege and displaced
(29:37):
children. According to the poster,they need go and here's fifteen thousand.
But no, that is a splendididea child. You know, I am
certain that this dead agent's government couldhave no possible objection if the money were
used such a noble purpose. Whoaafter all, A blank. They're always
yapping about how interested they are andthe little people, so we're just taking
(29:59):
them that they're word dangerous. Assignment, starring Brian Dunlevy as Steve Mitchell,
is written by Bob Ryfe and AdriaanJohn Doll and music by Robert Armbrewster and
is produced and directed by Bill carneBe will us again next week at this
(30:22):
same time when Brian Dunlevy, starringin the role of Steve Mitchell, will
embark on another dangerous assignment. DangerousAssignment came to you from Hollywood Theater Guild
on the Air brings you Hamlet tomorrowon NBC Welcome Back on Adventure, And
(31:00):
once again we find one of thesecases where the villain is the same and
it just kind of makes you wonder, what did Robert Rife have against obnoxious,
loudmouth people who bother their fellow tourists. Actually, I think I just
answered my own question. I thinkif I were undercover traveling, I would
(31:23):
go with the same color for that. LeBlanc went and pretend to be someone
who just wants to read or listento whatever they're wanting to read or listen
to, which is actually the wayI normally travel, So I think I
could pull it off as an undercovergig. Also, I love the acute
reference to Brian don Levy's film careerand appearance in the Birth of the Blues.
(31:48):
I've heard reference to the film,but I hadn't known that he was
in it. I generally don't associatehim with musical bass films, but I've
did a little searching and it's soundslike an interesting film. My check it
out. There was also a ScreenGuild Theater version, and I like to
listen to those, just to giveme a sample of what might be in
a particular movie. The guy atthe movie house did exaggerate a bit when
(32:14):
he said that all of the filmsthey got were fifteen years old, because
Birth of the Blues was released innineteen forty one, so it's a little
newer than that. Steve Mitchell's rejoinerabout television, though, it was a
reference to the fact that early television, in addition to the few kinescopes shows
(32:37):
that were being played, was reallyknown for replaying a lot of old movies.
Of course, when television started toreplay newer popular films, that would
be the end of the radio filmadaptations like Lux Radio Theater. Now we
(33:00):
turn to listener comments and feedback,and we start with a review on the
Apple podcast store. BILLOG sixty eightriots as a rural mail carrier in Maine,
spending six plus hours in a carsix days a week, I'd be
lost without it. I've been listeningfor a few years and finally getting a
(33:22):
round reviewing. I truly thank youfor what you are doing well. Thank
you so much and so glad tobe able to keep your company on your
mail route. Now it's time tothank our Patreon supporter of the day,
and I want to go ahead andthank Doug. Patreon supporters since July of
twenty twenty one currently supporting the programat the shameless level of four dollars or
(33:44):
more per month. Thanks so muchfor your support, Doug, and that
will do it for today. Ifyou are enjoying this podcast, please follow
us using your favorite podcast software,And if you're enjoying the podcast on YouTube,
be sure to lock the video,subscribe to the channel, and marked
the notification ballot, as well asleaback any comment if you so desire.
(34:05):
We'll be back next Wednesday with anotherepisode of Dangerous Asimment. But join us
back here tomorrow for follow vans whereMarcolm I won't be held very long,
will I? I can't make anypromises. It's possibility Vance come in.
This is Miss Jacqueline Rice, MissRice Finlo. Vance. How do you
do? Nce? You know Iasked you to come down definitely, although
(34:27):
your meager information hasn't supplied me withany motive for the crime. We haven't
found any ourselves yet, don't evenknow who the dead man was a matter
of fact, we know his name, Dan Smith, and that's all.
It occurred to me on the wayhere that the poker game might have been
the reason for his murder. Wewere playing for pennies, van Sergeant Heath
who broke into the apartment, andtell you that he told Markham and Markham
told me, which is the samething. But while pennies were used,
(34:50):
they may only have been used asan indicator, like a chip for instance.
In other words, each penny mighthave represented ten dollars or fifty or
one hundred. That's right, isn'tit, miss Rice? Yes might have
kind if Dan Smith were winning andsomebody couldn't afford to lose. How were
you doing in the game, missRice? I was losing up until the
hand that was interrupted, and thatone I would have won. That one
I had a straight flush. Minewas the winning hand. A straight flush
(35:14):
beat three aces, you know,so it does, and that's what Smith
held. Fred. You'll have tofind a different angle vance perhaps, although
I doubt it. After I questionedthe other two suspects, Markham, I'd
like you to release them and missRice all right. If you say so
vance, that means it's all rightif I go, that's correct, but
not too far, nicely said Markham. You see, I think miss Rice
has gone far enough already. Ihope you'll be with us then. In
(35:36):
the meantime, do send your commentsto Box thirteen at Great Detectives dot and
yet, follow us on Twitter,Radio Detectives, and check us out on
Instagram, Instagram dot com slash GreatDetectives From boise Idahole, This is your
host, Adam Graham's son and Off
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